Role of assist device implantation and heart transplantation in the long-term outcome of patients with structural heart disease after catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia

Introduction Ablation of ventricular tachycardias (VTs) in patients with structural heart disease (SHD) has been associated with advanced heart failure and poor survival. Methods and results This matched case-control study sought to assess the difference in survival after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation and/or heart transplantation (HTX) in SHD patients undergoing VT ablation. From the initial cohort of 309 SHD patients undergoing VT ablation (187 ischemic cardiomyopathy, mean age 64 ± 12 years, ejection fraction of 34 ± 13%), 15 patients received an LVAD and nine patients HTX after VT ablation during a follow-up period of 44 ± 33 months. Long-term survival after LVAD did not differ from the matched control group ( p = 0.761), although the cause of lethal events was different. All post-HTX patients survived during follow-up. Conclusion In this matched case-control study on patients with SHD undergoing VT ablation, patients that received LVAD implantation had similar survival compared to the control group after 4‑year follow-up, while the patients with HTX had a significantly better outcome.